The social support of Flemish gay men: an exploratory study

This study describes the sources and level of social support of Flemish gay men using data from surveys conducted in 1989 (n = 379) and 1993 (n = 553). Five indicators of social support were used: positive appraisal, perceived isolation, enacted social support, perceived material support, and perceived emotional support. The main results, which are cross validated across the two samples, are as follows. Most men score high on all five indicators of social support. Social relationship conflicts are either nonspecific or related to the steady partner. Isolation and lack of positive appraisal are also nonspecific or related to gay friends. Parents still function as important sources of material support. Men without a steady partner and men with low socioeconomic status experience more isolation. Single men also report less positive appraisal, while older men have less material support.